Fluid control apparatus



Jan. 8, 1952 R. M. WITT FLUID CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1945 Patented Jan. 8, 1952 FLUID CONTROL APPARATUS Richard M. Witt, San Francisco, Calif., assignor, by mcsne assignments, to Grove Regulator Company, a corporation of California Application January 31, 1945, Serial No. 575,433

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to fluid control devices of the type utilizing a diaphragm adapted to be flexed by fluid pressures for operating certain parts, such as a valve member or the like.

It is an object'of' the present invention to provide an improved type of diaphragm mounting for fluid flow control devices, characterized .in particular by its ability to withstand relatively high pressures without utilizing conventional clamping flanges of undue diameter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel assembly which will facilitate removal of the diaphragm for repair or replacement.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a diaphragm mounting of the bolted flange type which will facilitate application or removal of the clamping bolts.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in cross section showing equipment incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail illustrating the parts serving to connect the operating rod with the diaphragm.

The particular flow control device illustrated in the drawings is intended for back pressure regulation, although as will appear after a detail description, features of the invention can be incorporated in other types of flow control equipment. The device as illustrated consists of a valve body It provided with inflow and outflow passages I and I2 and a stationary valve seat |3. A valve member l4 cooperates with the seat and is carried by one end of the valve operating rod Hi. This rod is accommodated within a, longitudinal passage l1 formed in the body part I (la. The outer end of the rod It has a special connection to the flexible fluid diaphragm l8, as will be presently explained.

The novel mounting which I utilize for the diaphragm I8 consists of an enlarged body portion |||b which is formed to provide the annularly contoured clamping flange l9. Instead of having this clamping flange flat or disposed in a plane, as has been common in the past, it is dished as illustrated, whereby its faces |9a and |9b are shaped to conform generally to the surfaces of two spaced and concentric truncated cones. Thus upper face |9a is convex while lower face I9!) is concave. Cooperating with the outer convex face I9?) of flange l9 there is a rigid metal plate 2| which is crowned or dished so that i s peripheral edge portion hasa shaping conforming generally to that of the flange I9. In order to form a gas chamber upon one side of the diaphragm a dome 22 is provided, with the open end of the same having a weld connection 23 to the plate 2|. Communication may be had with the interior of dome 22 through the fitting.

The flange I9 and the flange formed by the outer periphery of plate 2 |,.are clamped together by means of the oircumferentially spaced clamping bolts 26. These bolts are accommodated within slots 21 formed in flange I9, and the openings 28 formed in plate 2|. The bolts are positioned whereby their axes are coincident with the surface of a cone, with the axis of the cone concentric with the axis-of the flange.

In order to aid in centering the plate 2| with respect to the flange I9, during assembly, it is desirable to provide three or more centering ears 29 on the flange IS. The inner surfaces 3| of these cars are machined to fit snugly about the machined edge 32, formed on the periphery of plate 2|. It will be noted that this machining conforms to the surface of a cylinder, having its axis concentric with the remainder of the assembly.

In order to form a sealing engagement with the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm I8 and the body, the body and the plate 2| are provided with machined annular shoulders 33 and 34 which engage and grip the outer peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm l8, thus forming a tight seal.

The preferred assembly for connecting the op-' erating rod'|6 with the diaphragm is constructed as follows: On the under sidev of the diaphragm H! (the side faced toward the rod I6) there is a cup-like member 36, having an opening 31 into which the rod loosely extends. Secured to the member 35, as by means of bolts 38, there is an upper diaphragm plate 39. The flexible diaphragm l8 has a central opening whereby the interior 4| of the cup 36 is accessible from the upper side of the diaphragm, upon removal of plate 39. When clamped upon member 35, the

plate together with member 36 forms a tight seal with respect to the diaphragm.

That end of the operating rod l6 within the cup chamber AI is provided with a portion 42 of reduced diametenwhich is engaged by the split ring 43. The parts of this ring are retained in place by the retaining ring 44. Split ring 43 in effect forms a shoulder whereby cup 36 is locked to the operating rod, with only limited lost mo- I tion being permitted. However upon removing plate 39, ring 44 and then split ring 43 can be remove to permit removal of diaphragm I8 together with the cup 35. Thus with an assembly of this character it is a simple matter to renew the diaphragm without disturbing the connections between pipe lines and the main valve body in.

In the particular construction illustrated spring means is utilized for normally urging rod IE toward closed position. Thus a coiled compression spring 46 is disposed about the rod, and one end I of this spring abuts the guide bushing 47, while the other end abuts a ring 48 which is attached to the rod I6.

In some instances the restricted space 49 between the diaphragm assembly and the plate 2!, may be in free communication with the main space of the dome 22. Also in some instances the dome 22 may be omitted in entirety and a connection made directly through the plate 21. In the construction illustrated however the space 49 communicates with the main space of the dome 22 through the flow restricting orifice 5|. Thus the arrangement utilizes the invention disclosed and claimed in Grove Letters Patent No. 2,047,101.

Operation of the device described above can be reviewed as follows: In assembling the various parts, after insertion of the diaphragm assembly, plate 2! is placed upon the flange IS with the openings 28 in registry with theslots 27. bolts 25 are then applied and tightened in the same manner as is customary with conventional flange couplings. After the bolts are applied a strong assembly is formed which is capable of withstanding relatively high pressures. In comparison with the conventional flange type couplings, the overall diameter of the flanges is considerably less than would otherwise be required, and at the same time a high degree of strength is afforded capable of withstanding the severe stresses to which the flanges are subjected. A further advantage is that the upper flange utilized in conjunction with the dome 22 is a part which can be inexpensively made from suitable materials such as pressed cold rolled steel. In structures requiring a diaphragm plate extending over the diaphragm, my assembly avoids the use of a flanged dome having a separate machined orifice plate such as shown in Patent No. 2,047,101. The attachment between the operating rod l5 and the diaphragm is likewise desirable in-that it facilitates making replacements of the diaphragm without disturbing the pipe connections with the main valve body.

Assuming that the device is employed as a back pressure regulator, dome 22 is loaded with gas under pressure and inlet I I is connected with the pressure system to be regulated. Outlet [2 can discharge to the atmosphere or can be connected to a low pressure system. When the pressure applied to the inlet 1 l exceeds a certain value for which the dome is loaded, diaphragm I8 is flexed upwardly to open the valve member I4, thus permitting fluid to escape to relieve the pressure. When the pressure has been reduced below the pressure level for which the device is set, then the valve member again moves to closed position.

It will be evident from the foregoing that features of the present invention, such as the novel diaphragm mounting, can be utilized with a variey of flow control devices, including pressure reducing regulators, back pressure relief valves, so-called diaphragm motor operated valves, and the like.

I claim:

1. In fluid control apparatus, a body provided with an annularly contoured and dished flange,

The

the faces of said flange conforming generally to the surfaces of two spaced and concentric truncated cones whereby one such face is convex and I flange and plate forming between them annular shoulders for gripping the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm, said plate and diaphragm forming a fluid chamber between them and the plate having a passage therethrough for communicating with said chamber, and means for clamping the plate and flange together.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the flange is provided with circumferentially spaced slots and the margin of the, plate provided with circumferentially spaced holes aligned with said slots, and in which said clamping means comprises bolts accommodated in said slots and holes.

3. In a fluid control apparatus, a body provided with an annularly contoured and dished flange, the faces of said flange conforming generally to the surfaces of two spaced and concentric truncated cones whereby one such face is convex and the other concave, an annularly contoured diaphragm extending across one side of the body and having its center aligned with the axis of the flange, said side of the body corresponding to the convex side of the flange, a rigid dished plate positioned with its concave side faced toward the diaphragm and with its concave peripheral edge portion overlying the convex face of the flange, said flange and plate forming between then annular shoulders for gripping the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm, said plate and dia phragm forming a fluid chamber between them and the plate having a passage therethrough for communicating with said chamber, a dome mounted upon the convex side of the plate and forming a gas chamber, said last chamber communicating with said first named chamber through said passage, and means for clamping the plate and flange together.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the flange is provided with circumferentially spaced slots and the peripheral edge portion of the plate is provided wtih circumferentially spaced openings aligned with said slots, and in which said clamping means comprises clamping bolts accommodated in said slots and openings, the bolts positioned with their axes coincident with the surface of a cone, such cone having its axis aligned with the axis of the flange.

RICHARD M WITT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Parker Jan. 7, 1941 

